The Secret of Azuron (The Sword Empire Book 1)

by J. R. Kearney

  Nerelion receded back to his seat, his vivid recollection of the First Era had everyone enlightened, though it remained unclear of the threat all this information posed here at present.

  "I think you all would realize the power behind this sword now," said Vhalen. "This was not Azuron's sword, he merely acquired it. Know that the power to take down an Ancient, a being of immortality, is a powerful and dangerous relic indeed. At first I thought to regard the sword as nothing more than that, but news from up north, in the province of Astiroth, has escalated my concern. I will leave it to Jema to explain what he has heard."

  Landau sat attentive, for none were any wiser to what peril lie before them. Jema appeared nervous despite his grandeur, he cleared his throat to regale in his rumor.

  "Some time last week I reunited with an old friend from Astiroth, down for the tournament. He is a soldier in the Legion, who is friends with Adentis, ally of Drentkin, who some of you may know as the champion of Astiroth. In the western city of Thagglebond, at the foot of Helskaar, the Warrior's Guild were given a contract to explore a disturbance coming from Blackreach, for you that don’t know, they are the darkened plains that blanket the southern fringes of Helskaar. Storm clouds gathered in the mountains a month before, and not from the weather of the world. Adentis described them as dark, insidious clouds that veiled the sky like smoke, and they persisted still at the time of his departure. Five men were sent to investigate the disturbance, and took their horses up the Mordale pass north of Thagglebond.

  For two days they were gone, until the third day citizens witnessed a lone horse stroll down from the mountain without its rider, its coat covered in blood, and not its own. Adentis with Drentkin and the rest of his circle were to investigate, but what became of their venture I cannot clarify."

  "I can confirm this," Garthal interrupted somberly. "Word of this contract passed down to our chapter, and we mourned in their honor. The Astorian chapter is amongst the finest our organization boasts, what devilry befell them must have been great indeed."

  "The lands of Blackreach have been vacant ever since the Empire abandoned their mines a century ago," Jema explained. "What stirs in the cover of darkness now is a threat that remains unknown. Drentkin is a great champion, but I fear for him."

  "What does this mean?" Pollus inquired.

  "The forces of Morakii have returned from their hiding," said Vhalen. "His power in Blackreach has awoken, where it has remained dormant for all this time."

  "But this is hearsay. Have we not just heard how men destroyed this Archaian?" asked Garthal, "how can such power prevail if the enemy is defeated?"

  "In my tower I pondered the books that detailed the Sword Empire when something caught my eye. Not in any book, but atop my desk where it has perched for many decades…a phylactery. For those of you who aren't aware of them, they are also known as soul gems, commonly used by necromancers to ensnare the soul and spirit of any living being. It is prohibited for obvious reasons, but through dark magic a soul can be infused within them, and allow the soul to persevere, even in death. But know that this magic is not limited to just gems, any solid object can be employed to ensnare a soul; be it a ring, a trinket, or even a sword…"

  Very quickly the council realized the implication Vhalen eluded to, though Landau remained perplexed to the weight of the wizard's explanation.

  "You don't suggest the soul of this Morakii resides in this here sword yes?" queried Ri'hira, raising his voice for the first time.

  "You said yourself that Azuron defeated him, what truth do you have to this claim?" asked Pollus of Vhalen.

  "Azuron was but a man who wielded a sword that man was never meant to hold, only the Ancients had the power to destroy Morakii whilst wielding the sword. When Azuron slashed the enemy his mortal strike produced an adverse reaction, though Morakii's body was incapacitated, his will I believe bound itself to this blade. There is a chance his soul endured within this sword. If this is true, then all Morakii would need is to be reunited with this weapon to reclaim his power, and bring tyranny back to Heldorn."

  Members of the council beheld the sword in newfound anxiousness, to suggest the Ancient's presence lingered in their very hall was ominous indeed.

  "How can you be certain of this?" said Eadwald.

  "How is it that such a weapon has remained hidden for all this time? Why would the enemy wait so long to acquire something as important as its soul?" Pollus ignited a fair point, to which Nerelion replied.

  "Mantaeus entombed Morakii's body within Black Mountain before his passing. The Titans themselves hacked away at the mountain yet could never penetrate it. The mountain is sealed and magically so, but Morakii's power I fear will soon return, it is only a matter of time before he discovers the means to break himself free. If this sword houses the soul of the enemy, then in his possession he will become an unstoppable force that no race on Heldorn can contest, regardless of how numerous are numbers may be. Perhaps our predecessors knew this, and thought to take the sword as far from Black Mountain as possible. Wars are but petty quarrels in comparison to what we face if we don't quickly resolve this concern."

  "Your skin may suggest you are wise - elf, but there is no wisdom in what you speak," Pollus spoke in distaste. "Outside this city our races barely tolerate each other yes, yet our armies united are capable of withstanding any enemy if it means our survival. Let him sit in his mountain and plot all he likes, I for one will not sit idly by and watch his destruction upon our lands! Why hold a meeting in secret if this threat affects us all, why invite us at all if you refrain from a purpose?"

  The scorn of many lay upon the sword, so insignificant it appeared to warrant tremendous attention. Clancey started the debate on what they should do with it.

  "We need to destroy it then, there is no doubt. I have witnessed many a relic fall into the wrong hands, and always to peril. We should rob him of the chance to claim it while we can."

  Alas Vhalen shattered his suggestion. "I regret to tell you that the sword is unbreakable, or else we would not be discussing it here with burdened thoughts. We pursued many options to break it, yet even in the hottest smelter did its shape endure. We cannot destroy it."

  "Then at least hide it, bury it for the enemy never to find," Eadwald replied, as though the solution was obvious.

  "This sword acts as a beacon to the enemy, the Ash-Spawn of Corcadia did not stumble upon this sword by chance," Nerelion revealed. "It is evident from the attack on this boy's village, and the Barghests that befouled him in Yalthume that the enemy is already seeking it, they are drawn to its presence. Thus far they have underestimated the ease in acquiring it, a mistake that Morakii will not continue to make. Our enemy has allies all across this land, there is no corner of Heldorn safe to harbor this weapon."

  "And I'm afraid the spell that imprisoned this sword into the ground is not familiar to me either, our magic is limited to replicate such actions," Vhalen spoke of himself and the Queen.

  "Then let us rid of it in the oceans, where the darkness is great. Our enemy will discover much trouble acquiring it from the depths unknown," suggested Thormond.

  "Trouble indeed," said Nerelion. "Nevertheless our enemy has minions known to us within our waters. The sword cannot be certain to hide itself forever, even if we sailed it to lands uncharted it will only buy us time. Morakii's power will not be whole, but to what end can we withstand his menace before being broken. As long as Morakii endures in Heldorn our children and their children could be battling this enemy until the end of days. They would know no peace, they would know no rest, and they would live in a constant state of fear and fatigue. Physically we could withstand the forces of our enemy, but as men you need to sleep, the enemy does not. We fight for our loved ones, where the enemy cares not, they have no regard for love, nor have they any remorse. They are not driven by courage nor bravery but will, utter desire to please their master. All our weaknesses are their strengths, and I fear in the coming months we will begin to witness what
we are up against."

  "So you bring us here to talk of our end, it is as simple as that?" Pollus raised his voice. "We have no chance is what you're saying? This is laughable your majesty, if what you reveal here is true, then what help do you think we can possibly provide?"

  Pollus turned to his old companion. "I'm sorry Clancey that he is your friend, but the burden your boy bestows on us should not go without punishment, what folly that a kid can bring so much anguish upon us!"

  "Calm down friend, this was well beyond his knowledge," Clancey defended, Landau tucked further into his chair.

  "I have known you for many years Clancey, and never have I known you to find this much trouble. Age is no excuse if such devastation exists here now."

  "Mind you are talking to a child, he…" Clancey remarked before the Queen thumped her sceptre to the table to shake the hall silent. Pollus resigned his words, but stared in contempt toward Clancey.

  "This boy was poking around where he shouldn't have been yes," Vhalen admitted, "but this was no accident I fear. The cave in which this sword was discovered was crafted. Landau was not the first to venture here nor was he the first to attempt to release the sword I wager. Regardless of how it came to Ruun, I believe the enemy has been waiting for the right person to come along, of his choosing."

  "You mean this young boy?" Garthal questioned, his stare became increasingly hostile. "What humor is this?"

  "What purpose is there to wait for the lad?" Clancey asked on Landau’s behalf. "Does the enemy think to bend his simple mind, that Landau would simply bring the sword to him? Why send his minions to destroy him at all if that be the case?"

  Many questions were contained in Clancey's query though Vhalen was quick to quaff them all except one.

  "His vulnerability is why he was chosen. This sword is a phylactery, it leeches on to life to power itself, as it has done so here. In order to find his strength, the power of the enemy has infused himself with Landau. It is possible the essence of Morakii now resides within him."

  Murmurs whispered in the background among those without a seat while the council made sense of Vhalen's summation.

  "You do not suggest Landau holds the power of the Ancients within him wizard? It would be absurd," Grennan said.

  It was evident to many the frown painted across the Queen's brow, even Jema's eyes couldn't stray from the table, while all other eyes fixated on Landau.

  "I realize these all sound like assumptions, but there is one way to be certain," Vhalen confessed.

  He walked around the table to where the sword rested, and grasped the hilt for all to observe. "When our creators wielded this sword to combat our enemy, the blade would burn with ethereal fire. It was this fire that would destroy the enemy, thus why Azuron's attempt was in vain."

  As he finished his sentence Vhalen arrived by Landau's side, with curious eyes he offered him the hilt of the sword. Landau gulped, and wiped a tear from his cheek. He hadn't gripped the sword since leaving his village, only now he realized why nobody else could manufacture the fire when they held it. Desperately his fingers engulfed the hilt, and he begged for luck that it wouldn't do it again. The audience stared on to what would eventuate, and for a relieving moment nothing did. Then from the cross-guard a dim blue flame softly ignited, before it glided to the tip of the blade, and enveloped the sword for all to see. The council realized these forthcoming tales were regretfully true, the power of the Ancients displayed before them. Landau held the blade until shame overwhelmed him to place it down, embarrassed at his mischief, he retreated to his chair and buried his face in Clancey's coat.

  The complaints of many muddled into one giant sound of disappointment, the noises made Landau empty, with the feeling of being ill. A gentle hand touched his back, only to find it was the Queen's hand that caressed him, and from her glistened a sympathetic smile. It was small and trivial, but to Landau he was confused by it. What this revelation meant he didn't understand, only that it brought the scorn of many. The Queen brought all to silence and addressed the audience once more.

  "You are now all aware of the weight of our predicament. This ancient evil now appears present before us and we cannot remain idle for this danger to escalate to our detriment. As you've heard this sword cannot be destroyed, nor is it safe to conceal it. There is but one glimmer of hope, though with a heavy heart do I suggest it. The power of the Ancients resides in this child, and this sword that the enemy requires is the only weapon we possess to destroy him, that only one of Ancient power can wield. Landau is now the only person, in all of Heldorn, with the power to defeat our enemy."

  The conundrum offered no hope, Landau knew he had not the skills required for this task, and her proposition resulted in slander from her own knights.

  "You speak of an immortal being my lady, that has killed tens of thousands of our people, one who controls every creature of evil in these lands and you propose sending a fisherman’s son to end him!" said Thormond. "We are to believe he will save us from the creator of all things evil?"

  "It is hardly a chance," added Garthal. "We cannot lure Morakii to us by which chance this boy can sneak a blow, you said yourself he is trapped within Black Mountain, deep in the land of Helskaar. Our warriors perished at the foot of Blackreach only weeks ago, skillful warriors, even with an army of our people we are useless to venture there with hope of success. With all due respect your Majesty this is hopeless, even if Drentkin himself pulled free the sword our enemy still holds the advantage, let alone this kid."

  If anybody knew Landau, it was Clancey who spoke in his defence.

  "Your Majesty, this task is beyond Landau. He is the gentlest of folk, intelligent beyond his years, but he is no crusader. He hails from a small village, no-one there has the skills to achieve such a feat, this is too grand a task to ask of him."

  "Landau and the sword are bound to each other, what power exists within the sword resides in him also. It is why the Ash-spawn targeted the children of his village, it is why the Barghests pursued him in Yalthume, even when Jema had possession of the sword. Landau's value is equal to that of the sword. If Landau should fall, then there is nobody left to wield Azuron's blade and defeat Morakii, regardless of what becomes of the sword. The enemy knows this. However unlikely this quest appears we are forced to try. The sword cannot stay here in Arwendel, if it is to travel to Helskaar where Black Mountain rises then we shall take the sword to the Imperial City in Astiroth. It is the safest place to secure the sword until we can move further forward."

  Upon her disheartening revelation the Queen kneeled before Landau, how unworthy he appeared for the Queen to gesture such an action, as she gazed into his eyes with much regret.

  "Landau my child, I cannot ask of you to bear this burden, as no greater task have I asked of anyone. You are old enough to understand what has been uttered here today. Are you prepared to take on this quest?"

  Landau was adamant he could not succeed, though clear it appeared that little other options existed. He feared to say no, much as he desired to, he glanced at Clancey who exuded sadness, and noticed the stern stare of Jema, unable to discern his feelings on the situation at all. He surveyed the room, these people he hardly knew, yet he could not bring himself to disappoint them. Lastly he turned to the Queen, almost ashamed to reveal it, he muttered a quiet and unsure,

  "yes…I will go."

  "But he is a child!" Thukrald bellowed, his jewelry jingled in his animated frustration.

  "Then he should not travel alone!" she replied sharply. "This quest is greater than any war that exists, our enemies will be unknown to us, and will sense the presence of Landau and the sword at all times. The risk is immense and the hope is small, but we can no longer rest here conceited in our arrogance that we have definitive power in this world. If anyone here is brave to believe in this hope, and wish to volunteer this burden to guide Landau and the sword to the Imperial City, please step forth."

  All in attendance scrutinized each other, for who would offer th
emselves to such a tremendous task? Landau was disheartened to notice no-one step forward, only sneers prevailed from those who regarded it foolish to accept.

  "You see your Majesty, this is folly," declared Thukrald, who prepared to dismiss himself, before his attention turned to Landau.

  "I feel for you kid. As much as this comes from your own meddling I would not wish this task upon anyone. I wish you luck."

  With that he departed, removed from the absurdity of the council. Landau watched others mimic his actions, the footsteps out the door became numerous. The Queen turned to the elves for relief.

  "Anduniel this threat must be presented to our people," Nerelion stated. "I do not question your judgement, but we will need to prepare our own kin for this danger should it ensue so quickly. I am sorry," he directed towards Landau before he and Llewelyn ascended from their seat and left their council also.

  Ri'hira and Ashahra followed soon after, following the sentiment of the elves. Eadwald and Grennan arose in hope, yet with a regretful glance at the Queen's Guard they dismissed themselves from the table, and signalled their squires to follow them, leaving Landau to his dismay.

  "I will accompany him."

  "Jema?" the Queen announced surprisingly.

  "I will see Landau safely to the city. If you would allow me leave my lady, I would be honored to lead him there."